Exclusive: Dir. T talks Toronto Subculture, Drops "Broker"

Dir. T is the latest child of a massive underground Toronto scene that is just now starting to birth a new generation of dark, post-modern, post-nihilist tastemakers that are using a full spectrum of artistic mediums to express themselves. Dir. T has found himself in the midst of that scene after dropping his landmark late-2014 anthem “4:16” with frequent collaborator Breeze. It was a raw look at a generation that can use religious imagery to paint Toronto’s drug-fueled youth culture in cruder but youtube-friendly cuts. His new single “Broker” touches on all these issues from the perspective of a young black male in Canada’s new cultural capital. We sat down and talked to the budding MC and FIF general Dir. T:

For those who are still new to you, could you tell them a little bit about yourself?

I’m Dir. T. Say it how it sounds. aka Director T. aka Dirty Boy T. aka Downtown Dirtbag. I’m just dirt, and I’m not afraid to admit it. Lotta niggas try to be something they’re not by lacing their names with shit like “Young”, knowing they gonna be old as fuck in a minute or “Rich Homie” knowing they could be broke any minute. I’m not on that fake it til you make it shit. I know we all came from earth, dirt. And I know that’s where we’ll all end up, I’m not tryna sugarcoat that at all.

How’s “DRUGS DRUGS DRUGS DRUGS DRUGS” coming along?

It’s stupid dope. It’s audio dope at it highest potency. It’s gonna play out more like a movie. Each one of my future projects are gonna play out like that because I’m Director T, I don’t make songs I make movies. There’s gonna be some action, some romance, hella comedy and of course some edge of your seat shit. It’s basically a narrative surrounding kids getting through Toronto’s coldest winter solely using and distributing a ridiculous amount of drugs. It’s a scene. So it’ll be glorified, it’ll be horrified, but most importantly it’ll be symbolized in a way its never been done. And I know nuff people in this city can relate to it.

You’re from Scarborough. How is it like?

Same as downtown just a lil more room to stretch your legs. I see the east and the west sides of Toronto like places to grow up and mold an honest outlook on life since there’s so much room for self-reflection. Not as many people tryna push their perspectives on you. You get room to breath.

Your song “4:16” with Breeze that was premiered on Noisey, what was the process like for that particular track?

That was just me and Breeze realizing how wild the parties in 4:16 can be yet no one’s tryna drop a anthem to reflect how motherfuckers in this scene really think and live. The lyrics in that are a complete display of the warped minds we’re surrounded by. If you listen close, youll see Its a complete contradiction of itself yet I seen niggas go fucking wild when that shit comes in the clubs cause we’re all walking contradictions. We’re all self destructive yet tryna live by the rules of done type of higher power, and intelligent fuckin niggas like us realize this .

How long have you been making music for?

Too long. Thats why I moved onto movies.

What are you listening to these days?

Alotta of music I used to fuck with heavy, I grew out of in the last 2 years. All these songs bout throwin’ dollar bills in the strip club and braggin’ bout how many papers with numbers you got don’t touch me no more. These dudes are so outta touch wit talking to the kids like me and around my city who are in such a dark place mentally that hearing shit like that ain’t inspiring, it just worsens shit. So I’m straight up pretty much only fuckin’ wit niggas from the 4:16. Roy Wood$, TRIPSIXX, Derek Wise, everybody from Smashmouth; Dillan, SeT, Jimmy and in terms of American shit, i’m still steady on my dark shit: teamSESH, T$VFOG, Azizi Gibson, Denzel Curry, Raider Klan, emo shit like that.

What are some of your favorite brands?

I rock what looks ill or just whats mad lugubrious and offensive. Bloodbath and Kill Brand are probably my #1 independent labels based outta the states. But alotta Toronto brands are dope right now too like Death, Muttonhead, Sully Wong & Nozo. I actually just modeled and help direct Nozo’s upcoming 2015 Winter Capsule lookbook. FiF gang as a whole can always be seen in some sort of Addidas thats like our go to brand… oh and of course our own gear: FUCKINxINTELLIGENTxFABRICS

You just dropped “Broker” which is your first single from your upcoming project, what’s the story behind that song?

It basically describes the state of mind that me and my niggas share. When it comes down to it we all make stupid choices… Broker’s just a rationalization of why we do it. Whether it’s right or wrong… its still the conclusion nuff niggas come to.

Every rapper writes their rhymes differently, how do you write yours?

I live life and the words just end up rhyming when i put that life on paper

What else do you plan to accomplish in 2015?

I think I wanna smash a asian mom… i’m yet to smash a asian mom ting…

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Check out Dir. T’s video “4:16” with Breeze below: